The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-06-16
WHOLE NUMBER l44l.

You left open, letting in whole swarm
Of stupid flies she had just driven out,
but say kindly .Let me do something
to help you; you look SO warm and
tired and. without appearing to notice
her little display Of petulance, lift out
the heavy dinner pot for her, put a pail
Of soft water in the reservoir and do
whatever you can to show her that you
her labors. Her own con-
science will sufficiently rebukc when she
sees what adear, good husband you are
This is trying season of the year,
when the strength and patience and
generalship Of the housekeeper is taxed
to its utmost, and when physical
strength is about to yieldto nervousness,
a feathers weight laid on by the hus-
bands thoughtlessness may break down
the last prop of good resolution to bear
bravely. while single act of kindness
or word Of encouragement, might push
the whole domestic machinery safely
through the trial to the golden Indian
summer of rest, when canning, pick
ling. preserving and house-cleaning
shall be among the things of the past.
HOMEMADE REFRIGERATOR.
The simplest form of ice-box or
refrigerator is tight box to hold the
food and ice, which is surrounded by
a larger box. with non-conducting
material between the two. Select or
make two boxes, one of them four to
six inches larger each way than the
other. The smaller box should be
lined on the inside with sheet zinc or
galvanized iron. and made water-tight;
this box should have at one end and
about midway Of its height shelf to
hold the ice and be provided with a
faucet at the bottom long enough to
reach through to the exterior Of the
outer box. Lay on the bottom of the
larger box two pieces of four-inch
scantling and fill up to the level Of
these with saw-dnst, and set on the in
ner box. The space between the two
boxes is to be filled in firmly with dry
saw-dust. The cover of the inner box
is sometimes made double, and the
space filled in with saw-dnst. but a
simple cover over which cotton quilt
is laid to exclude the air, will answer
as well. The cover to the outer box
should fit closely. and care should be
taken to keep the saw-dust dry. Such
q refrigerator may not be SO cconom-
ical of ice rs some modern ones, but
will answer 4 good purpose.
IN THE HILL.
Discussing this timely matter. an
Eastern newspaper remarks that all
kinds Of vines are benefited by manur-
ing the Hill, besides the amount applied
broadcast to the soil. But manuring
the hill needsto be done with discretion,
or it will do more harm than good.
Vines are enormous consumers of
moisture, and with free bearers are
more apt to suffer from dying out in
midsummer than from any other cause.
A forkful OF coarse, strawy manure in
dry time makes the hill over it dryer
than ever. No straw or litter of any
kind should be put under seeds of any
Kind in large quantity. Partly fermen-
ted manure mixed with the under soil,
and thoroughly compacted by treadine
down, will attract moisture and be a
reservoir from which the plants above
may draw. One difficulty in applying
manure in the hill is that it is thrown
in too loosely. and the soil is not CON-
pacted around it.
WATCH THE SMOKE.
How often we hear the remark, 1--WE
shall have rain; the atmosphere is so
heavy The reverse is true. When
one sees smoke hanging from chimney.
with a tendency to sink to the ground,
it indicates that the atmosphere is light
in fact too light to float the smoke.
When the smoke rises from the chimney
It indicates heavy atmosphere. A
column of smoke is not bad baromc-
ter. for a barometer is nothing more
than recorder Of the pressure of the
atmosphere. When the atmosphere il
light and the smoke settles the pressure
Oh the mercury is light and the column
falls, indicating storm. When the at
mosphere is heavy and the smoke rises
the pressure is greater and the column
rises, indicating far weather.
FISH DIET.
During the hot summer months farm
ers as rule use salted fish for a change
in the bill of fare. It is wholesome food,
the greatest objection to it being the
time it takes to freshen it SO it will be
palatable and not create thirst. Fol
salmon, mackerel and salted halibut
soaking over night in sour milk is the
best way to freshen it. Lay the skin
side down and put in enough of the soul
milk to entirely cover the fish. When
used rinse Thoroughly in cold water till
the water is clear, then boil tritle.
Too much boiling makes the fish hard.
Turn of the water and cook in cream o,
butter, or broil on the gridiron. Ineyel
tried any way of flavoring that gave
fish as good flavor as this. Salt pork
also is much better freshened over nigh,
in sour milk.
SHETLAND WOOL SHAWL.
Make chain of eight stitches and
join.
First row-Work twelve stitches in
to circle in double crochet.
Second row-Work two stitches be.
tween each stitch.
Third row-Work four stitches be-
tween every two stitches.
Fourth row-Work four stitches into
the center Of every four stitches, except
at the four corners, which should have
eight stitches instead Of four.
Fifth row-Work four stitches into
center Of every four stitches, except al
corners, which should have four into
every second of the eight stitches.
Sixth rOw-T.ila fanrth row